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Biography Scripts, Grades K–2

Invite your students to experience the lives of famous people through Readers Theater biography scripts. Choose single scripts or a series of scripts on one person from our growing Script Buffet. Why not have small groups work on different scripts? (If you're a paying member of our Script Buffet Club you may suggest future script ideas.)

Note: All four of our Thomas Edison scripts are too difficult for Readability K-2; however, we can adapt one of the more difficult scripts to be easier; just contact us. The easiest is a readability level of about grade 5.5. (See the Script Buffet Table Grades 6-8+ in the Biographies row)

Likewise, most of our Ben Franklin biographical scripts are too difficult for K–2; however, it may be possible to adapt one of the more difficult scripts to a lower grade. Contact us if you need a custom script of Ben Franklin for your grade level.

IMPORTANT: Most of our biographies are available to our paying Script Buffet Club members only. Each one pays a little and reaps a lot. :)

R = Readability grade level based on Flesch-Kincaide Readability Score. (Note: This score is often higher because of the word "narrator"--3 syllables! Other times it may be lower because of shorter sentences. Vocabulary is listed on front page of each script. Older scripts may have a "?" for readability--until I get the readability computed.) For example, Readability (R) 1.2 = grade 1, month 2 and Readability (R) 3.6 = grade 3, month 6.

All scripts include annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.

"In This Category" is a bulleted directory of scripts organized alphabetically by last name of the biographical person, even if their name does not appear in the script title.

Below the bulleted directory are summaries for all of our biography scripts in grades K–2 in order of publication, most recent first.

= exclusive for paying Script Buffet Club members

NOTE: To see the rest of the summaries, click "more articles >>" at the bottom of each page.

Would your students enjoy getting to know a heroine from Black History? "Harriet Tubman, Alias Moses: The Swamp Mystery" is #2 in our true-to-life Readers Theater scripts from the original biography of Harriet Tubman by Sarah Bradford (1869). Harriet Tubman told Mrs. Bradford the story of her life, including some of her adventures as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.

Ben Franklin wanted to be perfect. He compiled a list of virtues and made a plan. "Ben Franklin–The Be Better Plan (Part 1)" shares Franklin's list of virtues and plan. Paraphrased from Franklin's autobiography, this Readers Theater script is also available in a combined version with Parts 1 and 2 together. Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this character-building script is perfect for older students who are not on grade level, gifted primary students, and ESL or ELL students. The vocabulary is listed before the script, but the ideas in the script will need explanations for young readers.

Ben Franklin wanted to be perfect. He compiled a list of virtues and made a plan. "Ben Franklin–The Be Better Plan (Part 2)" continues Franklin's list of virtues and plan. Paraphrased from Franklin's autobiography, this Readers Theater script is also available in a combined version with Parts 1 and 2 together. Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this character-building script is perfect for older students who are not on grade level, gifted primary students, and ESL or ELL students. The vocabulary is listed before the script, but the ideas in the script will need explanations for young readers.

Ben Franklin wanted to be perfect. He compiled a list of virtues and made a plan. "Ben Franklin–The Be Better Plan (Parts 1-2 combined)" shares Franklin's list of virtues and plan. Paraphrased from Franklin's autobiography, this Readers Theater script is also available in a 2-part version for two groups or two days of practice. Complete with extensive annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this character-building script is perfect for older students who are not on grade level, gifted primary students, and ESL or ELL students. The vocabulary is listed before the script, but the ideas in the script will need explanations for young readers.

Patriotic excitement sprinkled with a little humor,"Francis Scott Key, the Flag, and the Song" makes learning history fun. This easy Readers Theater script for primary level students completes our set of four different readability levels for the story of "The Star-Spangled Banner." All of our scripts include a vocabulary list on the title page. Complete with six pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner" tells the story of the United States national anthem and the flag in the context of the War of 1812. (Note: This is the easiest version, with less vocabulary and shortened sentences.)

The United States anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" has inspired generations. Although we have a script "Francis Scott Key and the Star-Spangled Banner," with the story behind the patriotic song, this script is a Readers Theater adaptation of the song lyrics. "The Star-Spangled Banner Lyrics" includes all four verses and comes complete with lots of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans. Although the readability scale says grade 3, the lyrics are appropriate for every grade level 2-8+. (High school students could use this script, but I believe they'd enjoy adapting the lyrics to their own creative script!)

Short. Easy. Fun. "Ring! Ring! Ring! Alexander Graham Bell" uses the idea of a phone call in CHORAL Readers Theater style for primary level readers. Use this cross-curricular script as a springboard for discussions on how the telephone has changed the world or as part of a unit study on sound or hearing. Comes complete with four pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.

Easy. Historic. Biographical. "Alexander Graham Bell and Mr. Watson" takes two of Bell's historic phone conversations with his helper, Mr. Watson, and invites your students to participate via Readers Theater. This cross-currcular script is based on Bell's actual words as much as possible. (Bell invented the first telephone.)

Young Alexander Graham Bell (inventor of the telephone) asked a lot of questions. Some led to experiments and inventions. "Alexander Graham Bell and the Talking Dog" includes two related true stories from his teenage years that will make your students want to learn more about the man with "crazy" ideas.

Complete with 5 pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Alexander Graham Bell and the Talking Dog" is perfect for grades 2-3, remedial students in middle or high school, and ESL or ELL classes. Note: There is a longer and more difficult series of two scripts on Bell's life (grades 4-6), plus a simplified version of them (grade 3.2).

The early life of Bell is filled with fun stories of inventions and experiments. Can you imagine a "talking dog"? "Alexander Graham Bell--Part 1: Childhood Inventor (Full Class Version)" includes three stories from Aleck's life growing up. (His mom was deaf.) This Readers Theater biography about the famous inventor of the telephone is based on history and includes some of his actual quotes. (Note: Full class version means the narrators and Aleck's parts are divided among more readers. Part 1 comes in a 4 versions: full class, original with a cast of 3-7 and the simplified versions of those. The original version is readability grade 5.0--grade 4.4 without substituting "N" for "Narrator.")

Complete with 5 pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans (e.g., Bell, the telephone, hearing, the ear, and talking dogs), this science Readers Theater will have your students begging for Part 2.

The early life of Bell is filled with fun stories of inventions and experiments. Can you imagine a "talking dog"? "Alexander Graham Bell–Part 1: Childhood Inventor (Simplified Full Class Version)" includes three stories from Aleck's life growing up. (His mom was deaf.) This Readers Theater biography about the famous inventor of the telephone is based on history and includes some of his actual quotes. (Note: Full class version means the narrators and Aleck's parts are divided among more readers. Part 1 comes in a 4 versions: full class, original with a cast of 3-7 and the simplified versions of those. The original version is grade 4.4-5.0 depending on whether or not you use the word "Narrator.")

Complete with 5 pages of annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans (e.g., Bell, the telephone, hearing, the ear, and talking dogs), this science Readers Theater will have your students begging for Part 2.

Part III of our biographical series for beginning readers on the life of Clara Barton, "Clara Barton, Nurse and Red Cross Founder" is the super simple version of our original Readers Theater script written for upper elementary or gifted students. Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Clara Barton, Nurse and Red Cross Founder" fits well with a study of community helpers.

Praise from Teachers

...Keep doing what you are doing. There are not enough quality scripts available for children and teens. So many are inappropriate from a parent's perspective. As a teacher I want to also build character and integrity while I teach a subject. Why can't drama build up, inspire and be thought provoking?...Anyway, keep doing what you're doing...we need all the help we can get!Jen H., Drama teacher

> ...I have been teaching for 35 years. RT has been part of my education journey for the majority of that time. Initially my experience with it was as a performance genre in the Drama Curriculum. Now I use it across the curriculum - a wonderful high motivation strategy in the language program - particularly reading - and so much more as you would know. I was drawn to your 'community' by the idea of leadership... I think what you're doing is wonderful..."Graham B. Former primary teacher (now a Visual Art and Drama specialist)

Readers Theater All Year is the most comprehensive collection of Readers Theater scripts and resources I have found on the internet!...Thank you Carol for your leadership and vision and for making Readers Theater so accessible for teachers and parents.Daniel Fiore, Elementary teacher/author What They Have Taught Me

I found the free readers theater online scripts, teaching tips, and curriculum teleseminars at Readers Theater All Year very inspirational to me. I used the Twelve Days of Christmas...Vacation script in my ESOL classes before Christmas break and my students all enjoyed it..Lily T. Teacher (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

"> ..We did Squanto's Squash for the family on Thanksgiving and [my sons] participated and loved it. I am so excited about making this a major part of homeschooling. What a great way to learn!Bethany P. Homeschooling Mom

> ...re: our script "The Earth Day Hen and Friends" I've used this! The kids love it. Thank you for sharing...It's just right for all levels in the class...Your free scripts are wonderful!...They learn so much from drama and reader's theatre...I see the shy ones gain confidence as they read. Fluency and prosody increases with reader's theatre...Angela D., 3rd grade teacher

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